Generations: Armory Park hosts Medicare Health Day
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On Thursday Pima Council on Aging and Armory Park Senior Center are sponsoring a free educational event on Medicare and health insurance options for older and disabled adults.
The event is 9 a.m. to noon at the senior center, 220 S. Fifth Ave.
Medicare beneficiaries will have an opportunity to learn about changes for 2009 in all of the Medicare Advantage plans, as well as the stand-alone Medicare Part D Drug Benefit plans.
David Sayen, regional administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and Debra France, regional administrator for the Social Security Administration, will speak on the annual enrollment period, Nov. 15-Dec. 31. Medicare beneficiaries have an opportunity during this period to change their health plan coverage, if they desire, after they get an "Annual Notice of Change." If they are notified that their current health plan may no longer meet their particular medical needs or the co-insurance amounts have changed and they want to examine other plans, this is an opportunity to examine other options. Any changes that beneficiaries make during the enrollment period will become effective Jan. 1.
Trained Medicare counselors from Pima Council on Aging will be available to answer questions about the basic features of all the county's Medicare plans.
Representatives from Arizona Health Care Cost Contain-ment System and SSA also will assist with applications for AHCCCS, Medicare Cost Sharing (assistance with medical and prescription drug costs) and Social Security's Limited-Income Subsidy Applications, which assists Medicare beneficiaries whose incomes are above the AHCCCS guidelines but who may qualify for prescription drug help.
In addition, University of Arizona nursing students will be doing free blood pressure checks. Representatives from local hospitals, the Arizona Attorney General's office, Alzheimer's Association, AARP and other service providers will be on hand to provide information to and technical assistance for Medicare beneficiaries.
Refreshments will be provided.
We invite the Tucson and surrounding communities to come and to learn about their choices for 2009.
Today's question is answered by Lydia Baker, Pima Council on Aging's Coordinator of the State Health Insurance Program for Medicare/Health Insurance Assistance. Send questions to generations@tucsoncitizen.com.
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